Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change
(MoEFCC) held a meeting with 6 states in New Delhi to review the progress of
demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) along the Western Ghats
region. The crucial meeting discussed the progress made by states to physically
demarcate ESA in this region in order to make a decision the further course of
action in the ambit of recommendations made by Kasturirangan Committee report
(2013). The meeting was chaired via Union Environment Minister Prakash
Javadekar and was attained through environment Ministers of six States viz.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Key facts of
meeting No final decision was taken in this meeting as it will be taken by end
of August 2015. Focus: To set policy guidelines to conserve the biodiversity of
the Western Ghats region. Provide adequate opportunities for livelihood
security to the local people in the broad paradigm of ESA. Positive promotion
of environment friendly and socially inclusive development in this region.
Earlier, MoEFCC on the request of these six States had allowed them to the
demarcation of ESA within their jurisdiction by physical verification in the Western
Ghats region. States were asked to submit their proposals to the Ministry by 30
June 2015. On the other hand, Kerala is only state which had undertaken such an
exercise and submitted its report. It should be noted that only in those areas
demarcated as ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ) in ESA, commercial mining and
polluting industries will be completely banned.
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